Sportsbet

Sportsbet is on the Bureau's watch list

An operator appears on the watch list when credible reporting or regulator action raises unresolved questions about its conduct — for example open regulatory proceedings, repeated substantiated customer complaints, or adverse findings still under appeal. Read the full criteria and the current watch list.

• 2026-08-04 — Tim Costello, an Alliance for Gambling Reform advocate appearing before a Senate Inquiry, accused Sportsbet of paying for flights and escorts for problem gamblers and asking them about drug use to exploit vulnerabilities, according to reporting by the Australian Financial Review. Luke Bateman, a former heavy gambler, also alleged that a sports betting company (unnamed in his account) provided drugs at VIP events and asked him in advance what drugs he wanted available. (Letsgohorseracing)

  “ALLIANCE for Gambling Reform advocate Tim Costello has accused sports betting giants TAB and Sportsbet of paying for flights and escorts, and also asking problem gamblers what drugs they use in a bid to keep people punting.”

• 2026-08-03 — Former NRL player Luke Bateman told a Senate inquiry he was invited to VIP events by an unnamed bookmaker where he used drugs with bosses. Sportsbet responded by stating it has no evidence of such activities and called for anyone with evidence to report to authorities. (AFR)

  “Sportsbet says it has no evidence that its VIP managers offered drugs and escorts to gamblers to keep them punting, and anyone with evidence of such activities should hand it over for investigation by the authorities.”

• 2026-08-03 — Sportsbet has been accused before a parliamentary inquiry of offering illicit drugs, prostitutes, luxury accommodation and flights to high-spending customers to encourage continued gambling, The Australian reported. (The Australian)

  “Illicit drugs, prostitutes, luxury accommodation and flights are among the range of perks bookmakers have allegedly offered their highest-spending customers to keep them punting, a parliamentary probe has heard.”

• 2026-07-31 — A class action trial commenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria seeking refunds for Sportsbet customers who lost money using the company's Fast Code in-play betting service. Maurice Blackburn alleges the Fast Code service did not comply with Australian gambling laws requiring in-play bets to be made wholly by telephone, and that Sportsbet represented the service as lawful when it was not. (The Straight)

  “The proceeding was filed by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in late 2024 against Sportsbet on behalf of people who placed one or more losing in-play bets through the Fast Code service between December 2018 and December 2024.”

• 2025-12-29 — The NT Racing and Wagering Commission fined Sportsbet $313,140 for breaching licence conditions by failing to provide gambling activity statements to 6,131 customers over an 18-month period between 2022 and 2024, which the regulator described as 'a systemic failure' in the company's governance and assurance framework. (ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

  “The company was found to have breached its licence conditions by failing to provide 6,131 customers with "activity statements" over an 18-month period between 2022 and 2024.”

Listed operators can respond — entries are reviewed by the Bureau and removed when the matter is resolved.